MORRISON, Hew (1849-1935)
1CL Edinburgh 1887-1922
He had been a small town schoolmaster since 1874 and was believed to be Andrew Carnegie's choice for the first librarian of EDINBURGH. Carnegie's admiration of teachers knew few bounds and he had grant-aided EDINBURGH's building programme to the extent of £50,000. Divided opinion, however, among the members of the appointing committee resulted in Morrison having to spend the first month of his new post visiting libraries 'in order to gain a little insight into their working' and for the advertisement for his chief assistant emphasizing that 'no person need apply who has not had considerable experience in the work of a Free Library.' Morrison's appointment was satirized by MacAlister at the LA's 1887 Conference in his paper 'Wanted a librarian.' This resulted in MacAlister's appointment as LA Honorary Secretary and in Morrison's life-long suspicion of him and of the LA.

b. Tongue, Sutherland
schoolmaster for 20 years
(YB 1897, 147 with PHOTO)
FSA Scot
schoolmaster 1874-1887
chairman, St Cuthbert and Dean School Board, Edinburgh
vice-convener of Free Church Education Committee
author
(YB 1900, 123)